Friends, Glad I had done most of the preparation before yesterday's DDOS
(DIstributed Denial of Service) which affected many of us along the US East
Coast yesterday. In any case here are the annotations for this week's
selections. Unfortunately, the selections are mostly awful, two post 1970
Corelli-- Romeo and Werther which do not show the great Anconan at his
considerable best, a mediocre Forza , despite Noseda conducting, the
overplayed Stravinsky trilogy and Britten Death in Venice. The Siegfried
features an excellent Jon Fredric West in the title role, but Eaglen's
final cycle on a downward trajectory. Arguably the best performance of
the week is the overexposed L'Elisir d'Amore this 1968 performance was on
just 3 months ago, but at least it's one of the very best . The repertoire
this week is too concerned with oddities or regular repertory in ordinary
performances. I'm looking forward to my first William Tell in the House on
Tuesday. Musically I was very impressed by the new production premiere
early this week. Happy listening.
rww
*MONDAY OCTOBER 24, 2016*
Gounod: Romeo et Juliette Mon *Oct 24 6:00 am * 3/31/1973- Rich; Corelli,
Boky, Macurdy, Forst, Cossa
*Rebroadcast: *Thu Oct 27 12:00 pm , Sat Oct 29 6:00 pm
Last on Sirius: December 2015
Annotation from March 2013
Corelli premiered a new production with Freni in 1967 did not
broadcast it until 1970, and this is the second of his 3 Romeo
broadcasts, the third from 1974 which is on MOoD. I do not find him
in especially good voice for this broadcast.
Verdi: La Forza del Destino *Mon Oct 24 9:00 am* 3/11/2006- Noseda;
Voigt, Licitra, Delavan, Ramey, Komlosi, Pons
*Rebroadcast: *Thu Oct 27 12:00 am , Sat Oct 29 3:00 pm
Last on Sirius: October 2015 Available on Met Opera on Demand
(MOoD) Annotation from August 2013 updated
I love Forza del Destino, but it's a rather disjointed work, and not
an easy sing for ANYONE. I saw Voigt who did the part early in her
Met career with the lamented Sergej Larin . For this broadcast, it's
Licitra, also destined to leave us too soon. For me it's too late for
Ramey, Delavan does not impress me and this 2006
broadcast does not catch Voigt in anything like the voice she had a
decade earlier . What is MOoD doing featuring this performance when
another Sirius Forza broadcast with Tebaldi and Tucker from 1960 only
gets an occasional rotation and no presence for Tebaldi in this role
in MOoD. Noseda is a quality conductor, but why such special
pleading for Voigt and Licitra?
Massenet: Werther *Mon Oct 24 12:00 pm* 3/4/1972- Behr; Corelli, Elias,
Boky, Cossa
*Rebroadcast: *Thu Oct 27 6:00 am , Sun Oct 30 12:00 am
Last on Sirius: November 2015 Available on
MOoD Annotation from March 2013
This is the second of Corelli's two Werther broadcasts (the previous
was in 1971 also with Elias). Corelli looked magnificent as Werther,
but audio only points out the gaps in what is one of his weaker broadcasts.
Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps / Le Rossignol / Oedipus Rex *Mon Oct 24
3:00 pm* 1/2/1982- Levine; Bradley, Creech, Catania / Lewis, Troyanos,
Mazura
*Rebroadcast: *Wed Oct 26 9:00 am
Last on Sirius: February 2016
Annotation from February 2016
This is the first year of the Stravinsky/Hockney/Dexter/Levine trilogy
with Troyanos the featured Jocasta. Jessye Norman did 5 performances
the second year, but the broadcast was with Quivar as Jocasta. Blythe
appears in 2004 under Gergiev. I prefer these works to Rake's
Progress (heresy), but the Hockney/Dexter visuals were not as
appealing as their Parade French trilogy which preceded it.
Wagner: Siegfried *Mon Oct 24 6:00 pm* 4/17/2004- Levine; West, Eaglen,
Morris, Zaremba, Siegel, Fink
*Rebroadcast: *Wed Oct 26 12:00 pm , Sat Oct 29 6:00 am
Last on Sirius: November 2015
Annotation from December 2012
This is the last cycle with Eaglen at the Met, and while I generally
prefer Jon Fredric West as Siegfried and Gerhard Siegel (in his Met
debut season) to their counterparts in 2000, the 2000 performance is
available in MOoD and finds Eaglen in much better voice. Listen for
yourself and compare.
*TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016*
Rossini:Il Barbiere di Siviglia *Tue Oct 25 12:00 am* 3/9/1963-
Strasfogel; Guarrera, D'Angelo, Shirley, Corena, Tozzi
*Rebroadcast: *Thu Oct 27 9:00 am , Sun Oct 30 3:00 pm
Last on Sirius: November 2015
Annotation from October 2013
The only known I will vouch for in advance is Corena, one of his very
best roles. Tozzi becomes more variable in this period, so I don't
want to praise a performance I have not recently heard. This
performance could be anything from a train wreck to a secret gem.
What I am sure about is that it is not the Zedda critical
edition (not yet published).
Britten: Death in Venice* Tue Oct 25 6:00 am* 12/14/1974- Bedford; Pears,
Shirley-Quirk, Velis
*Rebroadcast: *Fri Oct 28 12:00 am , Sun Oct 30 6:00 pm
Last on Sirius: February 2016 Available on
MOoD Annotation from November 2013
The Met saw the USA premiere of Britten's Death in Venice and for the
Met debut of Peter Pears. His only other role at the Met was Captain
Vere in Billy Budd four years later; fortunately both of Pears' roles
are on MOoD. I always enjoy returning to Billy Budd, but I find Death
in Venice a hard sit despite all the talent involved.
Strauss: Die Agyptische Helena * Tue Oct 25 9:00 am* 3/31/2007- Luisi;
Voigt, Kerl, Damrau, Grove, Brendel
*Rebroadcast: *Thu Oct 27 3:00 pm , Sat Oct 29 9:00 pm
Last on Sirius May 2015 Available on
MOoD Annotation from February 2014
This is the Met's only broadcast of the Strauss work and Kerl and
Damrau are very impressive. I don't love the work, but like most
Strauss, it has its moments. It's repeated too often in rotation
which in no way approximates its importance in the Strauss canon.
Mozart: Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail *Tue Oct 25 12:00 pm *12/12/1987-
Janowski; Donat, Winbergh, Salminen, Mills, Zednik
*Rebroadcast: *Fri Oct 28 6:00 am
Last on Sirius: November 2015
Annotation from November 2015
Donat is too low profile for Konstanze (and this is her final Met
performance) , but the men are very good, and Janowski is a conductor
we saw too little of. Salminen reappears 4 years later in a broadcast
that is in MOoD with Devia and Olsen as support under Levine in one
of his best efforts. Winbergh only has 3 other Met broadcasts, 2
Ottavios in Don Giovanni and his final Met appearance as Jose in
Carmen. Since that is where his career was going -- Parsifal and
Tristan were on his calendar in final year, it would be nice to hear
his Jose, and Uria-Monzon would be a break from the typical Carmen--
she's native French speaker.
Donizetti: L'Elisir d'AmoreTue *Oct 25 3:00 pm* 3/16/1968- Cleva; Kraus,
Peters, Corena, Sereni
*Rebroadcast: *Thu Oct 27 9:00 pm , Fri Oct 28 9:00 am
Last on Sirius: July 2016 (!!!!!! Available on
MOoD Annotation from April 2011 updated
Pavarotti is a fine Nemorino, but the performances that stick more
strongly in my memory are those by Kraus and Bergonzi, each of whom
has a broadcast with Peters. Sereni and Corena owned these parts for
many years at the Met, and with good reason. This is the most
interesting
casting on Sirius this week, but was on only 3 months ago. Is
something stuck at Sirius?
Mozart: Cosi fan tutte *Tue Oct 25 6:00 pm *1/22/1972- Pritchard;
Zylis-Gara, Bottazzo, Elias, Uppman, Stratas, Berry
*Rebroadcast: *Fri Oct 28 12:00 pm , Sun Oct 30 9:00 am
Last on Sirius: November 2015 Available on MOoD
Annotation from January 2013
This is the first season Cosi returns to the original Italian at the
Met, but still retains the Lunt/Gerard production. Pritchard is an
experienced Mozartean, if rarely to my taste. Stratas is sharp
casting for Despina, and nice to see Berry in a congenial part.
Strauss: Salome*Tue Oct 25 9:00 pm* 2/17/1962- Rosenstock; Lewis, Vinay,
Thebom, Cassel, Olvis
*Rebroadcast: *Fri Oct 28 3:00 pm , Sun Oct 30 6:00 am
Last on Sirius: November 2015
Annotation from October 2012
I listen with wonder each time this broadcast is on. Brenda Lewis has
two Met Salomes, this broadcast, and an appearance
three months later on tour in Dallas with Liebl for Vinay, and Morley
Meredith for Cassel which I saw. Nilsson's recording with Solti had
appeared about a month before the Dallas performance, and I had fairly
devoured the recording listening to its many felicities dozens of
times ( and to be rewarded with 3 performances with Nilsson 3 years
later in New York). For my first stage Salome, Brenda Lewis was no
Birgit Nilsson. I
could not believe my ears. Was this the same opera? Lewis had done
yeoman work at NYCO, and premiered Blitzstein's Regina and Beeson's
Lizzie Borden (which I did see years later). The broadcast mikes do
not paint a pretty picture of Lewis' efforts. If this is going to be
offered in rotation (and I am glad it is), then we must bring on other
notable afternoons like the Moffo Lucia, 2/1/69 (I never have
to look up the date). I will listen again, but the potential listener
is warned.
*WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2016*
Verdi: Rigoletto *Wed Oct 26 12:00 am* 1/15/2000- Jurowski; Nucci, Jo,
Alvarez, Hawlata, Livengood
*Rebroadcast: *Thu Oct 27 6:00 pm , Sun Oct 30 12:00 pm
Last on Sirius: July 2015
Annotation from March
2013
Jurowski, a talented conductor returned to the Met recently
conducting Die Frau ohne Schatten in a most successful revival. Nucci
is a solid Rigoletto, and more to my taste more than most post 2000
baritones. Jo is helped a lot by the microphones, and Alvarez early in
his Met
career does an OK Duke.
Beethoven: Fidelio *Wed Oct 26 6:00 am *2/16/1991- Perick; Connell, Lakes,
Welker, Moll, Donath, Kaasch
*Rebroadcast: *Sat Oct 29 12:00 am , Sat Oct 29 12:00 pm
Last on Sirius: September 2015
Annotation from June 2012
This revival comes in for some harsh words from Tim Page, and this
broadcast marks the late Elizabeth Connell's farewell to the Met. She
has a more considerable overall career than her appearances at the Met
show, but this Fidelio does not help much. Moll and Donath are the
two members of the A
team, but Rocco and Marzelline are not the essential casting for
Fidelio, though I certainly appreciate good singers in the canon
quartet.
Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps / Le Rossignol / Oedipus Rex *Wed
Oct 26 9:00 am* 1/2/1982- Levine; Bradley, Creech, Catania / Lewis,
Troyanos, Mazura
Wagner: Siegfried *Wed Oct 26 12:00 pm* 4/17/2004- Levine; West,
Eaglen, Morris, Zaremba, Siegel, Fink
LIVE FROM THE MET: Rossini: L’Italiana in Algeri* Wed Oct 26 7:25 pm * LIVE
FROM THE MET: Rossini: Levine; DeShong, Abdrazakov, Barbera, Alaimo
*THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016*
Verdi: La Forza del Destino *Thu Oct 27 12:00 am* 3/11/2006- Noseda;
Voigt, Licitra, Delavan, Ramey, Komlosi, Pons
Massenet: Werther *Thu Oct 27 6:00 am* 3/4/1972- Behr; Corelli, Elias,
Boky, Cossa
Rossini:Il Barbiere di Siviglia *Thu Oct 27 9:00 am* 3/9/1963-
Strasfogel; Guarrera, D'Angelo, Shirley, Corena, Tozzi
Gounod: Romeo et Juliette Mon *Thu Oct 27 12:00 pm * 3/31/1973- Rich;
Corelli, Boky, Macurdy, Forst, Cossa
Strauss: Die Agyptische Helena * Thu Oct 27 3:00 pm* 3/31/2007- Luisi;
Voigt, Kerl, Damrau, Grove, Brendel
Verdi: Rigoletto *Thu Oct 27 6:00 pm* 1/15/2000- Jurowski; Nucci, Jo,
Alvarez, Hawlata, Livengood
Donizetti: L'Elisir d'Amore *Thu* *Oct 27 9:00 pm* 3/16/1968- Cleva;
Kraus, Peters, Corena, Sereni
*FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016*
Britten: Death in Venice* Fri Oct 28 12:00 am* 12/14/1974- Bedford;
Pears, Shirley-Quirk, Velis
Mozart: Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail *Fri Oct 28 6:00 am *12/12/1987-
Janowski; Donat, Winbergh, Salminen, Mills, Zednik
Donizetti: L'Elisir d'Amore Fri *Oct 28 9:00 am* 3/16/1968- Cleva; Kraus,
Peters, Corena, Sereni
Mozart: Cosi fan tutte *Fri Oct 28 12:00 pm *1/22/1972- Pritchard;
Zylis-Gara, Bottazzo, Elias, Uppman, Stratas, Berry
Strauss: Salome* Fri Oct 28 3:00 pm* 2/17/1962- Rosenstock; Lewis, Vinay,
Thebom, Cassel, Olvis
LIVE FROM THE MET: Janacek: Jenufa *Fri Oct 28 7:25 pm* LIVE FROM THE MET:
Janacek: Robertson; Dyka, Mattila, Brenna, Kaiser, Schwarz
*SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016*
Beethoven: Fidelio *Sat Oct 29 12:00 am *2/16/1991- Perick; Connell,
Lakes, Welker, Moll, Donath, Kaasch
Wagner: Siegfried *Sat Oct 29 6:00 am* 4/17/2004- Levine; West, Eaglen,
Morris, Zaremba, Siegel, Fink
Beethoven: Fidelio *Sat Oct 29 12:00 pm *2/16/1991- Perick; Connell,
Lakes, Welker, Moll, Donath, Kaasch
Verdi: La Forza del Destino *Sat Oct 29 3:00 pm* 3/11/2006- Noseda;
Voigt, Licitra, Delavan, Ramey, Komlosi, Pons
Gounod: Romeo et Juliette *Sat* *Oct 29 6:00 pm * 3/31/1973- Rich;
Corelli, Boky, Macurdy, Forst, Cossa
Strauss: Die Agyptische Helena * Sat Oct 29 9:00 pm* 3/31/2007- Luisi;
Voigt, Kerl, Damrau, Grove, Brendel
*SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016*
Massenet: Werther *Sun Oct 30 12:00 am* 3/4/1972- Behr; Corelli, Elias,
Boky, Cossa
Strauss: Salome* Sun Oct 30 6:00 am* 2/17/1962- Rosenstock; Lewis, Vinay,
Thebom, Cassel, Olvis
Mozart: Cosi fan tutte *Sun Oct 30 9:00 am *1/22/1972- Pritchard;
Zylis-Gara, Bottazzo, Elias, Uppman, Stratas, Berry
Verdi: Rigoletto *Sun Oct 30 12:00 pm* 1/15/2000- Jurowski; Nucci, Jo,
Alvarez, Hawlata, Livengood
Rossini:Il Barbiere di Siviglia *Sun Oct 30 3:00 pm* 3/9/1963-
Strasfogel; Guarrera, D'Angelo, Shirley, Corena, Tozzi
Britten: Death in Venice* Sun Oct 30 6:00 pm* 12/14/1974- Bedford; Pears,
Shirley-Quirk, Velis
THE MET ON RECORD: Puccini: La Boheme (1947)Sun Oct 30 9:00 pm (1947)-
Sayao, Tucker, Benzell, Valentino, Cehanovsky
--
Robert W. White
Home: 515 Anderson Avenue, Apt. 6D
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
Cell: 201-803-1142; Land 201-943-5302
Email [log in to unmask]
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Executive Director 1986-2015, BCCLS, Hackensack, NJ
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